Seconds From Disaster Season 1 Episode 2 Tunnel Inferno

On the second episode of the first season of Seconds From Disaster, viewers are taken back to 1996 to witness the tragedy of the Channel Tunnel inferno. The Channel Tunnel, also known as the Chunnel, is an underwater rail tunnel that connects the United Kingdom and France. It was a groundbreaking engineering project that took six years to complete and cost over $15 billion to build. The tunnel is 50.5 kilometers long, with 37.9 kilometers of it being under the English Channel.

The episode begins with a high-speed train making its way through the Channel Tunnel, carrying over 500 passengers and several trucks loaded with goods. Suddenly, at around 10:50 pm on November 18, 1996, a huge explosion rips through a freight shuttle train traveling in the opposite direction. The fireball that follows the explosion creates temperatures of over 1,000 degrees Celsius, and the resulting inferno immediately causes severe damage to the tunnel infrastructure.

The train conductor from the passenger train immediately contacts the emergency services and stops the train, instructing his passengers to remain seated and calm. Meanwhile, the freight train, carrying 32 passengers and three drivers, becomes engulfed in flames, trapping those inside.

The episode then dives into the investigation to understand what caused the explosion and subsequent fire. Experts are brought in to examine the scene and determine the cause of the horrific accident. The severity of the damage to the tunnel infrastructure meant that rescue operations were already being compromised. The train drivers' compartment was around 12 kilometers into the tunnel, and it was clear that the drivers had little chance of escape. The heat in the tunnel caused the overhead power lines to collapse, bringing down live electrical cables, exposing personnel and equipment to the danger of “secondary fires”, which explained why the tunnel was still burning.

The episode examines the role of the Kent Fire Brigade and the French near the town of Calais, who worked side by side in extreme situations to limit the devastation that the inferno could have caused. The rescue teams initially struggled to gain access to the stricken train, but with persistent efforts and working against the clock, they were eventually able to get into the train and extract the passengers inside. After 21 hours of intense fire fighting, the blaze was eventually brought under control. Fourteen people lost their lives in the incident, but had it not been for the dedication, skill and tenacity of a remarkable team of fire-fighters, the death-toll could have been much higher.

Seconds from Disaster season 1 episode 2 tells the story of the Channel Tunnel Inferno, one of the most devastating railway accidents in recent history. Through interviews with survivors and experts, as well as stunning computer-generated images, this episode recreates the horrific events that took place on that November night in 1996. It also highlights the bravery of the rescue teams who worked endlessly to fight the fire and save lives. This episode serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of safety measures, not only in engineering projects but in our everyday lives, as it shows how just one wrong move can quickly escalate into a disaster with devastating consequences.